The court filing comes two weeks after TEA investigators determined several board members violated the Texas Open Meetings Act, improperly influenced district contracts, and overstepped their governance role.

The 49-page complaint argues that TEA officials were had decided before the inquiry was completed that it would seek to oust the Houston school board. It also says the state agency failed to fully investigate allegations and incorrectly applied the law to their findings.

In addition, the lawsuit alleges the agency is violating federal civil rights laws by replacing school boards only in districts where a majority of residents are people of color.